Fashion and Music News

Tag Archives: financial knowledge

Wes Edens is principal and one of the three founders of Fortress Investment Group, a private equity firm founded in 1998. Along with Randal Nardone and Rob Kauffman, Edens brought a deep background of financial knowledge and experience to the new company. A graduate of Oregon State University, Edens had held prior positions at Lehman Brothers and Blackrock, where he was partner and managing director at both companies.

Headquartered in New York, Wes Edens is responsible for the Private Equity Division, the core area on which Fortress was founded. Eden is known for his ability to wade through incredibly complex scenarios, and turn them into substantial returns for Fortress. Due in large part to Edens’s skills and knowledge, Fortress Investment Group has achieved global success. Although Edens is intensely involved and busy with the daily operations of Fortress, he makes time for other interests.

One of Wes Edens’s most interesting projects is a private passenger train system called Brightline. The system is owned by Fortress Investment Group, and is managed by Edens. Brightline trains make several runs each day between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and runs other routes between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The trains offer free wifi, food services, and other amenities. Edens is hoping to continue to extend routes in Florida, and is interested in a Dallas to Houston Brightline connection, as well as other possibilities. Brightline trains have successfully eased the stresses of the commute for many in the area, and have shortened travel times.

Also, Wes Edens is a billionaire with an interest in sports. In 2014, he and Marc Lasry purchased an NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks. The deal to become an owner of a professional sports team cost 550 million dollars. Recently, Edens and Nassef Sawiris, a wealthy Egyptian, agreed to buy a 55 percent stake in the Aston Villa Soccer Club, an English team. The team was struggling financially, and the 39 million dollars injected by Edens and Sawiris will strengthen the club. Edens and Sawiris, both soccer fans, hope to help bring the club back to a level of maintainable success. Since Edens seems to know how to achieve success, fans should be reassured. Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens buy Aston Villa controlling stake